{"id":68113,"date":"2022-04-03T13:24:56","date_gmt":"2022-04-03T20:24:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/soulofamerica.com\/?page_id=68113"},"modified":"2024-03-18T18:47:09","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T01:47:09","slug":"besancon","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.soulofamerica.com\/international\/besancon\/","title":{"rendered":"Besancon"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Besancon

Dougs Riverwalk in the fall, Besancon<\/strong>; (c) Soul Of America<\/p><\/div>\n

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Besancon<\/h2>\n
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Photos<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Transport<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hotels<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Weather<\/a><\/p>\n

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Beginning of French Abolitionist & Civil Rights Route<\/strong>
\nby Calvin Young, Soul Of America<\/div>\n
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I was most happily invited to Eastern France by the French Tourism Ministry to participate and tour the Slavery Abolitionists and Civil Rights Route. Being an American and having no affinity for long names, I shall just call it the “Freedom Road.”<\/p>\n

Although delighted, I was somewhat puzzled as I had never heard of such a road in France or anywhere else. I thought that this prize was uniquely African American or at least African, invented by us in our quest for freedom. Internet research did not add much to my knowledge. I resolved to go to France and find out just how much this road resembled America\u2019s civil rights pilgrimage.<\/p>\n

After arriving in Paris and catch a bus directly to Gare de Lyon train station for service to Besan\u00e7on. Everything a person needs can be found in a Parisian train station. Great fast food, excellent coffee, pastries, even quality sit-down meals, and a place to stay at hotels located nearby, some just next to the stations.<\/p>\n

\"Dorsey<\/a><\/p>\n

These hotels are affiliated with the Transportation Ministry, so standards are high and costs are reasonable.<\/p>\n

I surmised that France is a river of ideas, ideas of a people that tend toward freedom, freedom for themselves, and freedom for others. This river has flowed for a very long time, from the time of the Romans who were determined to subjugate them and make them their own, slaves for a Roman world.<\/p>\n

The Romans became the Arabians, the Muslims, then the English, and lastly the Germans; all determined and capable warriors.<\/p>\n

\"Birthplace

Besancon birthplace of the Lumiere Brothers, inventors of Cinematography<\/strong>; (c) Soul Of America<\/p><\/div>\n

Read more Besancon History<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The Romans and all the others are gone now; only highly prized and interesting vestiges of their passing remain. But the river still burns bright, still flows strong, and the Civil Rights Road marks the passing of those who kept the flame of freedom burning bright.<\/p>\n

This trip made me aware that this river began not in Paris, but in the heartland of Eastern France, near Besan\u00e7on. The French Freedom Road begins in Besan\u00e7on, then goes to Pontarlier by the Community of the Commune of Larmont, and on to the Ch\u00e2teau de Joux.<\/p>\n

After a night at Besan\u00e7on, we left for a visit and discovery of the history of the vow of Champagney. We were introduced to the discovery of the church and a walk-up to the stele and the presentation of the \u201cMaison de la Negritude\u201d vow and museum space. Next, we visit a museum honoring the life of Victor Schoelcher in Fessenheim.<\/p>\n

\"Evelyn

Evelyn White at Victor Hugo house in Besan\u00e7on<\/strong>; (c) Soul Of America<\/p><\/div>\n

After Fessenhim, we traveled by bus to Colmar, an absolutely delightful town, undamaged by World War II, to become acquainted with the work of Albert Schweitzer. The next stop was Emberm\u00e9nil and a visit to the Abb\u00e9 Gr\u00e9goire house, after which we went to Lun\u00e9ville and a stop at the Ch\u00e2teau de Lumi\u00e8res.<\/p>\n

Besan\u00e7on is a picturesque ancient town in Eastern France in the Doubs river valley. The town is delightful and located about 3 hours east of Paris and with mountains on each side. The town is enclosed in a loop of the river which itself is encased by ancient, old-growth trees. The river and the town with the same name are surrounded by the Jura Mountains.<\/p>\n

A series of old stone bridges allow access from the modern part of the town to its ancient core. Besancon has been a trading center from ancient times until today.<\/p>\n

The Rue de la R\u00e9publique leads from the river to the central place du 8-Septembre and the sixteenth-century H\u00f4tel de Ville. Grande-Rue is the principal street and it cuts across the square along the line of an old Roman road. The town has many lively shops and cafes and a square, the Place de la R\u00e9volution, and the excellent Mus\u00e9e des Beaux-Arts.<\/p>\n